Spooler type winder



July 3, 1962 R. J. MAHONEY 3,042,328

SPOOLER TYPE WINDER Filed April 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i /2 E3 1 1 I IIIHIIHIIIIIHIHIHIIllllll mm 1m M! n 11 1| ll-IH :1 1| /4 L/J IN V EN TOR.

Robe/Z J. Mafia/1g BY (0% M4444, 041 v ATTORNEKS July 3, 1962 R. J. MAHONEY 3,042,328

SPOOLER TYPE WINDER Filed April 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Roberi cf Md/iong/ BY w 6M ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,042,328 SPOOLER TYPE WFNDER Robert I. Mahoney, Rockford, 11]., assignor to Barber- Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 804,516 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-356) This invention pertains to thread winders of the socalled spooler or Barber-Colman type and constitutes an improvement on the machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,757,874. In such machines, a tying unit or so-called traveler including an end finding roll and knotter moves along a horizontal path past successive winding units by which threads from active supply bobbins are drawn upwardly and wound into the form of a cheese. So long as the winding continues, the tying unit by-passes the winding unit, but if the thread is broken or exhausted, the tying unit in passing the winding unit picks up and unites the broken thread and an adjacent reserve thread and restarts the winding as it comes opposite and passes the inactive winding unit.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve on and simplify the patented machine by a novel construction of the traveling tying unit which permits the reserve thread of each winding unit to be held in a stationarily mounted clamp while being presented properly to the passing traveler in the event the associated winding unit is inactive.

Another object is to utilize the movement of the tying unit to control the by-passing of the reserve threads of active winding units.

A more detailed object is to hold the reserve threads of the successive winding units in a normal position for active engagement with the knotter but to bend the thread of each winding unit out of the path of the knotter as the latter passes by in the event that the winding unit is in operation.

The invention also resides in the simple construction of the mechanism for selectively inactivating the knotter as it passes the reserve thread of an active winding unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the tying unit and one winding unit.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sections taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and showing different positions of the parts.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the tying unit.

In the drawings, the invention is shown incorporated in a winder of essentia ly the same construction as that disclosed in the aforesaid patent to which reference may be had for further details. In general, individual winding units are mounted on and spaced as shown in FIG. 2 along a frame 11 having an overhanging top 12 supporting a tying unit or so-called traveler 13 which is advanced along a horizontal path past the successive winding units by turning of a pinion 14 meshing with rack teeth 15.

Each winding unit includes an upright arm or carrier 16 (FIG. 1) carrying a rotatable core 17 On which a thread T drawn from an active supply bobbin 18 is wound to form a larger yarn mass such as a cheese 19. Such winding takes place when the cheese is resting as shown in FIG. 1 on a drum 20 rotated continuously and having a helical groove receiving the thread and traversing the same back and forth along the cheese. The cheese core is journaled on an arm 21 projecting horizontally from and fulcrumed at 22 on the upper end of the carrier 16 which is pivoted at 24 to permit the cheese to be carried forwardly from the winding position A shown in full in FIG. 1 to an intermediate position B indicated in dotted outline and then on to a tying position C shown by dotdash lines. As fully described in the patent, the cheese carrier 16 is moved to the intermediate position by a spring 25 upon release of a latch 26 in response to the thread detector of the winding unit breaking or'exhaustion of the running thread T. Movement of the cheese on to the tying position is effected by an inclined cam surface 27 movable with the traveler 13 and engageable with a roller 28 on an arm 29 coupled with the cheese arm 21 and upstanding from the pivot 22. The cam surface 27 merges with an edge 30 paralleling the traveler motion and formed on a horizontal plate 31 supported by brackets 32 projecting toward the winding unit from the traveler frame 33.

The active bobbin 18 is supported in one radially opening pocket in a magazine 35 mounted on the frame 11 and below the path of the traveler 13 to index step by step about a vertical axis 36 and transfer a reserve bobbin 37 into winding position after the reserve thread has been tied to the broken thread on the cheese. The bobbin 37 is placed in a pocket of the magazine 35 by the machine operator after which a length of the thread R is drawn upwardly and led in between the jaws of a spring clamp 38 (FIGS. 1 and 4) so as to lie against a fixed guide 39 as shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with the present invention and to simplify the construction of the individual winding units, the clamp 38 of each winding unit 10 is fixed to an upstanding arm 40 on the machine frame 11 and offset outwardly from the upward line of travel of the active running thread T.

The traveling tying unit 13 includes an end finding roll 41 for supporting the cheese during the tying operation, a weavers knotter 43 including a hook '44 and various clamping devices (not shown) projecting horizontally toward the winding unit and operable in a manner conventional in the Barber-Colman Type D Spooler to pick up the thread R and the end of the broken thread on the cheese and unite the same by means of a weavers knotter. Herein, the hook projects past and moves in a path disposed inside of the inclined plane in which the hung-up reserve threads R of the different winding units are disposed as determined by the position of the guide 39 and the stationary clamp 38 between which the knotter hook isdisposed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

In accordance with the present invention, each reserve thread R is permitted to remain in this normal hung-up position and in the path of the hook of the passing knotter if the active thread T of any winding unit breaks or becomes exhausted before the tying unit reaches such winding unit. Conversely, if the thread T remains unbroken and continues to be wound onto the cheese, en.- gagement of the associated reserve thread R by the knotter is prevented by deflecting this thread laterally and holding the same out of the path of the hook thereby disabling the continuously operating tying unit while it is passing by the active winding unit.

Detection of the presence or absence of a thread running to the cheese and therefore proper operation of each tying unit is indicated at all times by the position of the cheese carrier 16 and therefore the roller 28- thereon. If the latter is in the winding position A, the tying unit is maintained inactive while it passes the active winding unit. But if the thread has broken, the roller 28 will be in the intermediate position B and thus disposed in the path of the inclined surface 27 on the tying unit so as to be cammed outwardly still further and to the tying position C where the cheese carrier is held as the roller follows along the straight surface 30. This movement of the carrier 16 indexes the magazine to move the reserve bobbin 37 into the active winding position.

While the cheese carrier is held in the tying position, means detailed in the patentoperates automatically to lower the cheese onto the end finding roll 41, associate the found end with the reserve thread R picked up by the knotter hook, tie the two threads together, and finally shift the cheese back onto the drum to continue building up the cheese by thread from the new bobbin.

Deflection of the hung-up reserve thread R out of the path of the knotter as above described while the traveler is passing a properly operating winding unit is effected in the present instance by an arm 46 mounted on the knotter ahead of the hook 44 (see FIG. 2) and between the latter and the guide 39, the arm extending across the vertical plane in which the reserve threads are normally disposed. Herein, the arm is an elongated piece of wire projecting from one leg of a yoke 47 (FIG. 4) straddling a lug 48 on the inner wall of the knotter casing and pivoted on an upright pin 49. The wire projects forwardly past the hook 44 and along but inside of the path of travel thereof and then is bent laterally and outwardly across this path so as normally to be disposed in the position shown in full in FIG. 2. In this position, the -wire presents an abutment 46 engageable with the reserve threads R in the normal hung-up positions of the latter. This abutment is inclined forwardly and outwardly so that upon engaging a thread R, the latter will be cammed inwardly as the traveler advances and thus bent and deflected beyond the end of the hook 44 as shown in FIG. 1 so as to bypass the latter As the advance continues, the thread rides along the inner end of the wire and the yoke 47 before again being freed to return to the normal position shown in phantom in FIG. 1. It will be apparent that with the deflector 46 disposed in its normal position, the tying unit 13 will be disabled as it passes the reserve thread R of the successive winding units. Thus, the latter are allowed to continue in operation and wind thread from their bobbins 18.

As set forth above, the invention contemplates retracting the deflector 46 and maintaining the same disabled and out of engagement with the reserve thread R of any winding unit 10 which has been stopped as above described by breaking or exhaustion of its thread T by the time that the traveler 13 approaches such unit. This condition is indicated by disposal of the cheese carrier 16 in the tying position C, the roller 28 then being disposed in and riding along the cam straight portion 30 of the cam 31 on the traveler. Thus, the roller may be employed advantageously to utilize the motion of the traveler to actuate mechanism on the latter for moving the deflector 46 outwardly from the normal full line position (FIG. 2) to the retracted position shown in phantom.

In the present instance, this mechanism includes a lever 50 disposed above and resting on a horizontal plate 51 on the traveler frame 33 and fulcrumed on an upright pin 52. One end of the lever extends forwardly and has an inclined inner surface 53 which is disposed in a position to engage the outer side of the roller 28 as the lever passes the roller While the latter is riding along and backed by the cam surface 30. The lever is so positioned that it will engage the roller when the defiector 46 reaches a position a few inches short of the reserve thread R of each inactive tying unit.

When, during the advance of the traveler, the cam 53 engages the roller, the lever 50 will be rocked clockwise to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2. This movement is transmitted to the deflector by suitable means such as a flexible push-pull connector 54 comprising a cable 55 enclosed in a flexible tubular covering 56 secured at opposite ends to rigid tubes 57 and 58. The tube 57 is secured at 59 to the traveler frame and forms a guide for a push rod 60 forming an extension of the cable end and having a fork at its outer end pivotally connected at 61 to the trailing end of the lever 50. The connector extends outwardly and downwardly along the traveler frame 33 and then inwardly across the top of the knotter 43 casing to which the guide tube 58 is bolted. An extension 62 at-this end of the cable 55 is connected to a stud 63 upstanding from the free end of an arm 64 fixed to the yoke 47 and projecting forwardly along but above the deflector 46.

Through the flexible connector 54, the outward rocking of the lever 50 as it passes the roller 28 as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted to the deflector 46 thus swinging the latter outwardly from the normally active position shown in full in FIG. 2 to the inactive position shown in phantom. In the latter, the path of advance of the deflector is disposed outside of the normal position of the reserve thread R. Thus, as the deflector passes by, the position of the reserve thread indicated in phantom in FIG. 1 is unchanged and this portion of the thread remains positioned for proper operative engagement by the hook 44 of the knotter and tying of the thread to the broken thread end on the cheese.

Suitable means is provided for holding the deflector in the retracted position after its actuation by the roller and while the knot is being tied in the continued motion of the traveler. Herein this means takes the form of a latch 65 fulcrumed at 66 on the plate 51 and normally held by a contractile spring 67 in the position shown in full in FIG. 2 and determined by abutment of a pin 68 on the latch with the outer end of a slot 69 in a link 70. The latter is connected at 71 to an arm 72 projecting outwardly intermediate the ends of the lever 50. When the lever is actuated by the roller 28, a cross-pin 73 on the lever rides up and over an incline 74 to become seated in a hook 75 on the latch.

In the active position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 and in full outline in FIG. 3 a projection 76 on the latch 65 projects into the path of the roller 28 and is spaced far enough along the plate 51 to remain inactive while the tying operation is being completed. Finally, when the projection 76 encounters the roller'28 in the advance of the traveler, the latch 65 is cammed outwardly as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. Such rocking of the latch releases the hook 75 from the pin 73 thus freeing the lever 50 which is rocked back to normal position by the link 70 as shown in phanton in FIG. 2 after the lost motion in the connection 68, 69 has been taken up. The parts of the connector 54 are thus returned to normal position and the latch is reset by the spring 67 as the projection 76 passes out of engagement with the roller 28. After the latter has passed out of engage-' ment with the traveler surface 30 another cam (not shown) on the traveler engages the roller to shift the cheese carrier 16 back to the winding position as described in the aforesaid patent.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by the addition of a relatively simple mechanism on the traveler including the deflector 46 and its actuator, it is possible to mount the reserve thread clamp 38 of each winding unit 10 stationarily and thus greatly simplify the overall construction of the multiple unit spooler. In addition, the actuator for the deflector may, if desired, be utilized to perform other functions incident to the tying operation. For example, a lug 78 (FIG. 4) may be formed on the arm 64 in a position to engage a part 79 of the reserve thread clamp 38 and open the latter momentarily as the arm is swung back to normal position. The cut 01f end of the reserve thread is thus released for removal in an adjacent suction tube associated with the knotter in the standard Barber-Colman spooler. Also, the deflector 46 itself may be constructed and positioned so that its return motion may be utilized to strip out the threads remaining held in clamps and the shear of the knotter 43 after the knot has been tied. A substantial simplification in construction of the knotter may thus be effected.

I claim as my invention:

1. A winder having, in combination, a winding unit including an active bobbin and a cheese and means for drawing thread from the bobbin and winding the same onto the cheese, means supporting a reserve bobbin and holding the thread thereof alongside but spaced from said first thread, a tying unit movable along a predetermined path past said winding unit including a knotter engageable with said reserve thread and operable to tie the same to the trailing end of a broken thread on said cheese during movement of the tying unit past the Winding unit, means for sensing breaking or exhaustion of said first thread including a member on said winding unit moved to a predetermined position in response to breaking of said first thread; a deflector carried by said tying unit in advance of said knotter and normally disposed in a position to engage said reserve thread and cam the same out of the path of the oncoming knotter, an actuator operable to disable said deflector in the absence of a thread running between said active bobbin and said cheese including a part mounted on said tying unit for engagement with said member and moved thereby out of a normal position in passing by the member, and means carried by said tying unit and subsequently engageable with said member and actuated thereby durin continued movement of the tying unit to return said dehector to said normal position.

2. A winder having, in combination, a winding unit including an active bobbin and a cheese and means for drawing thread from the bobbin and Winding the same onto the cheese, means supporting a reserve bobbin and holding the thread thereof alongside but spaced from said first thread, a tying unit movable along a predetermined path past said winding unit including a knotter engageable with said reserve thread and operable to tie the same to the trailing end of a broken thread on said cheese during movement of the tying unit past the winding unit, said winding unit including a member moved to a predetermined position in response to breaking of said first thread; a deflector carried by said tying unit in advance of said knotter and disposed in a position to engage said reserve thread and cam the same out of the path of the oncoming knotter, and an actuator operable to disable said deflector in the absence of a thread running between said active bobbin and said cheese including a part mounted on said tying unit for engagement with said member and actuated thereby in passing by the member.

2,757,874 Marcellus Aug. 7, 1956 

